Success stories
Nurturing Agri Startups: Success stories of Start-ups under ABI -ICAR-DOGR Pune
Rajiv Baliram Kale, Kalyani Gorrepati, Bhushan Bibwe, Vijay Mahajan
ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Pune
Innovating Onion Processing: The Story of Satpro Food Processing (OPC) Pvt. Ltd.
Entrepreneur: Swati Maichael Gaikwad, Daund, Pune
Turnover: ₹60 lakh/year Profit Margin: 25-30%
Swati Maichael Gaikwad’s journey is a shining example of resilience and innovation. After a career setback due to health issues, she transformed her expertise in Agri-Biotechnology into a thriving business. Initially exploring grape processing, Swati pivoted to onion processing after market analysis revealed its vast potential. With two years of meticulous research, she founded Satpro Food Processing (OPC) Pvt. Ltd., specializing in low-oil fried onions and dehydrated products. ABI ICAR-DOGR’s mentorship was pivotal in her entrepreneurial journey, providing guidance on market dynamics
, branding, and industrial networking. Swati’s products are now featured in premium outlets like Barbeque Nation and Suhana. The FSSAI certification facilitated by ABI ensured her products met high safety standards, enabling her to scale efficiently. Additionally, participation in Entrepreneurship Development Programs (EDPs) on onion processing helped refine her skills.
Revolutionizing Onion Storage: Godaam Innovations
Entrepreneur: Kalyani Shinde, Lasalgaon, Maharashtra
Turnover: ₹26 lakh/year Profit Margin: 30%
Kalyani Shinde’s Godaam Innovations addresses the pressing issue of post-harvest onion losses. Growing up in Lasalgaon, Asia’s largest onion market, she witnessed the hardships caused by spoilage and price fluctuations. Motivated to find a solution, she founded Godaam Innovations in 2018, focusing on tech-enabled storage solutions to minimize losses and stabilize farmer incomes. Her innovations include optimized ventilation systems, floor spacing adjustments, and IoT devices to monitor storage conditions and detect early signs of spoilage. ABI ICAR-DOGR played
a crucial role in her success, offering technical mentorship and training on storage techniques. Participation in startup cohorts further enhanced her skills in networking and scaling operations. Exposure visits to processing industries provided Kalyani with insights into cutting-edge storage technologies. With these interventions, Godaam Innovations has reduced onion spoilage by 20-25%, directly benefiting farmers and improving their profitability. Today, the company generates a turnover of ₹26 lakh with a 30% profit margin. Looking ahead, Kalyani plans to expand her operations and develop similar solutions for other perishable crops. Her journey exemplifies the potential of combining technology with entrepreneurship to address critical agricultural challenges.
Empowering Women: Kukadi Mahila Swayam SahayataSamuha
Entrepreneur: Ashwini Narawade, Parner, Maharashtra
Turnover: ₹12 lakh/year Profit Margin: ₹5 lakh (cumulative)
Ashwini Narawade’s leadership has transformed Kukadi Mahila Swayam SahayataSamuha into a beacon of women-led entrepreneurship. Inspired by a Block Development Officer’s suggestion, Ashwini formed a self-help group to produce health-focused agro-products. With ABI ICAR-DOGR’s support, the group developed high-quality virgin coconut oil and onion seed oil, overcoming challenges such as odor management. Access to ABI’s Custom Hiring Centers provided the group with cutting-edge machinery, enhancing their production capacity. Training programs on branding and marketing empowered them to promote their products effectively. Regular participation in agricultural fairs and expos expanded their market reach, foster
ing a loyal customer base. The venture has provided employment to rural women, enabling them to achieve financial independence. Weekly sales of 100 bottles generate consistent revenue, with cumulative profits reaching ₹5 lakh. Ashwini’s plans include launching an online store and scaling production under the PMFME scheme, ensuring sustained growth. Her story highlights the transformative power of collective action, mentorship, and determination in empowering rural women through agribusiness.
Reviving Tribal Heritage: Vanastha
Entrepreneur: Sushma Shinde, Bhimashankar, Maharashtra
Turnover: ₹8 lakh/year Profit Margin: 20-25%
Vanastha, founded by Sushma Shinde, revives the traditional use of the mahua tree among tribal communities. The tree’s declining utilization due to its association with liquor production prompted Sushma to innovate, creating Ayurvedic products such as mahua ladoos and diabetic-friendly rice varieties. With mentorship from ABI ICAR-DOGR and technical support from NIFTEM, Sushma expanded her product range to include wild berry pickles and organic rice.
Exposure visits organized by ABI provided valuable insights into urban market dynamics, helping her position her products effectively. Training on branding and operational scaling further refined her business strategy. Vanastha has created sustainable income streams for tribal communities, reducing deforestation and promoting ecological balance. With a turnover of ₹8 lakh and profits of 20-25%, Sushma’s venture integrates traditional knowledge with modern agribusiness practices. Her future plans include expanding her product portfolio and tapping into global markets, ensuring long-term sustainability.
Transforming Garlic into Gold: Alunt Agro Products Pvt. Ltd.
Entrepreneur: Sunil ShamraoIngawale, Alegaon, Pune
Turnover: ₹8 lakh/year Profit Margin: 25%
Sunil ShamraoIngawale’sAlunt Agro Products introduced black garlic to the Indian market, leveraging its nutritional benefits. Extensive research led Sunil to develop a unique fermentation process, creating a product rich in antioxidants. ABI ICAR-DOGR provided critical support through technical guidance, lab testing, and patent facilitation. Participation in EDPs on garlic processing helped Sunil refine his business approach. Affordable pricing strategies ensured that his products were accessible to middle-class consumers, driving demand. The company’s turnover of ₹8 lakh and 25% profit margin reflect its steady growth and market acceptance. Sunil’s vision includes scaling production and diversifying his product range to reach international markets. His story underscores the importance of persistence, innovation, and institutional support in building a successful agribusiness.
Empowering Farmers Through Innovation: The Story of Shreya Trading Company
Entrepreneur: Vivek Bhujbal, Khed, Pune
Turnover: ₹6 lakh/year Profit Margin: ₹30,000/month
Vivek Bhujbal transformed his passion for trading into a thriving agribusiness. Initially focused on fruit and vegetable trading, Vivek identified an opportunity to process surplus farm produce into value-added products. With the mentorship of ABI ICAR-DOGR, he launched Shreya Trading Company, specializing in onion and garlic powders, moringa powder, and coriander products. Access to ABI’s Custom Hiring Centers enabled Vivek to utilize advanced processing equipment, ensuring product quality and consistency. He also attended workshops on market networking and branding, which helped establish Krushi Bhagyoday Farmer Producer Company, an initiative to support small-scale farmers. Shreya Trading Company now generates steady profits and provides a reliable market for surplus produce, enhancing farmer incomes. Vivek’s future plans include scaling operations and expanding his market reach through e-commerce platforms. His story showcases the potential of combining mentorship with entrepreneurial vision to create sustainable agribusiness models.
From Dream to Reality: Pratil Langote’s Journey in Agri-Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneur: Pratil Langote, Vafgaon, Pune
Turnover: ₹16 lakh/year Profit Margin: 10-15%
Pratil Langote turned his dream of entrepreneurship into a successful agribusiness venture. Recognizing the potential of value-added products, he focused on processing onion, garlic, moringa, and beetroot into powders and strips. Mentorship from ABI ICAR-DOGR guided him through business planning, product development, and market entry. Pratil attended specialized training sessions, including one by NIFTEM, which helped refine his products’ formulations. His business a
chieved an impressive turnover of ₹16 lakh within the first year, with steady profit margins. Pratil’s efforts have created new markets for local produce and demonstrated the viability of agribusiness innovations.With plans to expand his product range and market presence, Pratil continues to benefit from institutional support, reflecting the transformative potential of guided entrepreneurship.
Farmer Collectivization: Palanduh Farmer Producer Company
Entrepreneur: November 2022, Vijayapura, Karnataka
Turnover: ₹2 crore/year Profit Margin: ₹1.2 crore net worth
Palanduh Farmer Producer Company (FPC) represents a remarkable example of collective success in agriculture. Established to address the challenges faced by onion farmers in Vijayapura, Karnataka, the FPC has united over 1,000 farmers, collectively cultivating 12,000 acres of onions. Supported by ABI ICAR-DOGR, the FPC has developed a robust value chain, including input distribution, training, and value-added processing of onions into products such as flakes, powder, and fried onions. Strategic partnerships with national and international organizations, along with collaborations with the Department of Horticulture and banks, have strengthened the FPC’s financial and operational foundation. ABI ICAR-DOGR facilitated workshops on organic fertilizers and pest management, significantly improving crop quality. Furthermore, access to small loans enabled members to scale operations effectively.
In 2024, Palanduh FPC launched its brand, “VJOY,” which has gained recognition in premium markets. This initiative, along with extensive knowledge-sharing events and field demonstrations, has positioned Palanduh as a model of agricultural innovation and empowerment. With a turnover of ₹2 crore and a profit margin that has established a net worth of ₹1.2 crore, Palanduh FPC exemplifies the potential of collective action and institutional support in transforming agricultural communities. Future plans include expanding their product portfolio and entering global markets, ensuring long-term sustainability and farmer prosperity.
‘One variety One village’: Onion Seed Villages for empowering marginalized farmers
S S Gadge, R. B. Kale and Vijay Mahajan
Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra one of largest onion producer districts in Maharashtra. However the productivity of onion is low. Scheduled cast farmers were doing the traditional farming without adoption of improved technologies which led to low productivity in Onion. In the year 2021, Pimpri Gurav, Rajapur, Halgaon villages of Karjat Tahasil in Ahmednagar District of Maharashtra were selected under SCSP project. The majority of the farmers in the region were from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, who were doing traditional farming.
Intervention by ICAR-DOGR ICAR-DOGR
ICAR-DOGR in collaboration with KVK, Agriculural Development Trust, Baramati initiated a SCSP project to promote high-yielding, disease-resistant onion varieties suitable for the local climate and soil conditions. The project involved the following interventions:
1. Demonstration of improved variety and cultivation practices: ICAR-DOGR demonstrated two new onion varieties, Bhima Super, and Bhima Shakti which were specifically developed for Kharif and Rabi season. These varieties were found to have higher yields, better disease resistance, and improved bulb quality compared to traditional varieties.
2. Training and Capacity Building: ICAR-DOGR provided training to farmers on the new varieties, seed production, and marketing techniques. This capacity building helped farmers to improve their skills and knowledge in onion seed production and marketing.
3. Establishment of Farmers’ Collective: Gurav Pimpri Farmers Producer Company in the year 2022 with the objective of empowering SC farmers in the region.
4. Development of Seed villages: Onion is highly cross pollinated crop Onion which is hurdle for quality seed production. Seed Village concept was implemented with theme of ‘One variety One village’ for high quality seed production. The company used the new varieties developed by ICAR -DOGR and implemented good agricultural practices (GAPs) to ensure consistent seed quality. The produced seeds are sold to the member of FPC and local farmers with low price.
These interventions by ICAR-DOGR had a significant impact on the local onion seed production and onion productivity:
1. Increased Yield: The new onion varieties developed by ICAR-DOGR resulted in higher yields for farmers, with an average increase of 20% compared to traditional varieties. The farmers before intervention producing 25 to 30 tonnes of yield per ha started producing the 40 to 42 tonnes of yield per ha.
2. Improved Disease Resistance: The disease-resistant varieties developed by ICAR-DOGR reduced the incidence of diseases in onion crops, resulting in lower crop losses and improved overall crop health.
3. High shelf life during storage: Bhima Shakti variety have good storage life upto six month which reduces the storage losses and fetch good prices for onion.
4. Seed Sufficiency: The village achieved self-sufficiency in onion seed production. Farmers are now able to cultivate their own high-quality seeds, ensuring consistent and reliable planting material. During 2022-23, 2200 kg seeds of bhima Shakti variety were produced and d
uring 2023-24, 4000 kg seeds were produced. This FPC is distributing this seed among the farmers with no profit no loss basis.
5. Enhanced Market Access: With consistent production of quality onions, farmers gained better access to markets and were able to command higher prices for their produce resulting in improved profitability and livelihoods.
6. Empowered Farmers: The FPC empowered farmers, particularly those belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, by providing them with a collective voice, bargaining power, and access to essential resources.
7. Increased Farmer Participation: The training and capacity building by ICAR-DOGR encouraged more farmers to participate in onion seed production and quality onion production, leading to increased economic activity and employment opportunities in the region.
Conclusion
The success story of the Onion Seed Village demonstrates the potential of collaborative efforts between farmers, and research institutions, to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods. The intervention by ICAR-DOGR and the Onion Seed Village has created a model for sustainable onion seed production, dissemination of improved varieties of onion, thereby enhancing onion productivity, which can be replicated in other regions to promote agricultural development and improve the lives of small-scale farmers.
Bhima Kiran -A Success Story
Bhima Kiran is a light red onion variety with good bulb storability developed by the ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR), Rajgurunagar has become a success story in Maharashtra and adjoining states. This variety had been recommended at national level in 1stAnnual Group Meeting of AINPORG held at CITH, Srinagar (J&K) during 10-11 May, 2010 for rabi season for cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. It matures in 125-135 days after transplanting and has light red attractive bulbs with good storability.
It is alsofield tolerant to thrips and foliar diseases. Mr.Harish Nurjee Vadvi, a group leader of tribal farmers of Merali Yaha Shetkari Bachat Gat, Palipada, Navapur, Nandurbar, Maharashtra had raised onionbulb crop as per DOGR recommended technology and produced 200 q per acre marketable bulb yield and earned net income of Rs. 80,000/- per acre even when onion bulbs were sold at the rate of Rs. 6/- per kg. Mrs. Archana Surupsingh Valvi, a group leader of tribal lady farmers of Saraswati Mahila Bachat Gat, Palipada, Navapur, Nandurbar, Maharashtra
had raised onionseed crop as per DOGR recommended technology and produced 279 kg per acre onion seedand earned net income of Rs. 1.04,000/- per acre even when onion seed were sold at the rate of Rs. 450/- per kg to DOGR on buy-back basis. Several demonstration have been conducted in different part of the country on onion bulb and seed production of Bhima Kiran including more than fifteen demonstration under tribal belts of Nandurbar and farmers were benefited because Bhima Kiran was found best for bulb storage up to five month during rabi. Hence, farmers have shown interest in this variety and DOGR have already sold 23.22 q seed of Bhima Kiran.
This varietyis now grown over1000 acres in different states. Most of the farmers are often earning a net profit of more than Rs. 1.0 lakh per acre by cultivating Bhima Kiran. Mr.Harish Nurjee Vadvi and Mrs. Archana Surupsingh Valvi also felicitated on the occasion of 19thFoundation Day of ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research, Rajgurunagar, Pune celebrated on 16thJune 2016for their contribution to onion cultivationgives due credit to DOGR for his achievements.
Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav
Under ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’ scheme, DOGR scientists guided farmers of the adopted villages. Shri Ravindra Namdeo Gorde, farmer of Gosasi village, District Pune was one of them. He has narrated that he got tremendous increase in onion bulb yield after applying ICAR-DOGR technologies. According to him previously he was cultivating onion crop by using traditional practices. He was spraying pesticides and insecticides after seeing incidences of diseases and insects. Now he takes precautions before diseases and insects occurs. He does treats onion seed with thirum before sowing in nursery. He transplants onion seedlings after dipping roots in carbendazim and carbosulfan solution for two hours. Afterwards, he sprays insecticides and pesticides time to time as per DOGR advice. Last year on 22 July 2015, Shri Gorde had sown seed of Bhima Shakti in nursery. He transplanted seedlings on 5 September 2015. He harvested onion crop on 25 December 2015 and sold onion in market on 5 January 2016. Shri Gorde was previously getting only 60 bags (1 bag = 65 kg) /acre of onion bulbs. But last year after using advance technology of onion cultivation, he got 150 bags of good quality onion bulbs in one acre. As his onion bulbs were of good quality, he received market rate of Rs. 21 per kg. Previously, he was getting only Rs. 10 per kg.
In this way, Shri Gorde has been benefitted due to advice of scientists of ICAR-DOGR under ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’ scheme.
Bhima Shubhra
White Onion is preferred over red onion in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR) developed a high yielding white onion variety ‘Bhima Shubhra’. This variety was recommended in the workshop of All India Network Research Project on Onion and Garlic at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Kalyani during 18-19th April 2013 for cultivation in kharif and late kharif seasons. This variety matures in about 110-115 days after transplanting during kharif and 120-130 days after transplanting in late kharif.
Shri Namdeorao Adhau, from Patur, Akola (Maharashtra), purchased 5 kg seed of ‘Bhima Shubhra’ from DOGR and sowed onion crop on 1.25 acre area on raised bed as per recommended technology of DOGR. He obtained a record marketable yield of 21 tonnes/acre of good quality bulbs with uniform size and without doubles and bolters.
He earned a net profit of Rs. 2.5 lakhs by marketing the produce of ‘Bhima Shubhra’. Impressed by the performance of this variety, he decided to disseminate the technology to the farmers in his vicinity. Shri Adhau formed a group of about 300 farmers from twelve villages of the region. Now this group is promoting the cultivation of ‘Bhima Shubhra’ in an area of more than 750 acres in these villages. Most of the members of this group are often earning a net profit of more than Rs. 1.0 lakh/acre.
Shri Adhau displayed the bulbs of ‘Bhima Shubhra’ in various agriculture exhibitions including at ‘KRISHI VASANT’ - a National Agriculture Exhibition held at Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur during 9-13th February, 2014. Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble President of India was very much impressed by the quality of bulbs of onion variety ‘Bhima Shubhra’ being displayed by Shri Adhau. Shri Mukherjee remarked ‘Bhima Shubhra’ as the King of Onion.
Bhima Purple
Bhima Purple a high yielding garlic variety developed by the ICAR-Directorate of Onion and Garlic Research (DOGR), Rajgurunagar has become a success story in Maharashtra and adjoining states. This variety had been recommended at national level in 2nd Annual Group Meeting of AINPORG held at Ooty (TNAU, Coimbatore) during 29-30 April, 2011 for cultivation in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. It matures in 135-140 days after planting and has light purple bulbs with good storability. It is also field tolerant to thrips and foliar diseases. Mr. Vishnu Ramchandra Jare, a farmer from Bahirwadi, Ahmednagar (Maharashtra) had purchased 1 kg mother bulbs of Bhima Purple from DOGR in 2007 and raised garlic crop as per DOGR recommended technology. He conducted trial with different garlic varieties and found
Bhima Purple to be the best yielder. After multiplication he has raised commercial crop in last six years and obtained a record net yield of 40 q/acre of uniform bulb shape and colour. He earned a net profit of Rs 2.0 lakh/acre by selling garlic bulbs @ Rs. 80-100/kg as seed to other farmers. He is continuously multiplying Bhima Purple along with another farmer Mrs. Lata Arjun Konthivire from Jeur, Ahmednagar. In 2014-15, both the farmers planted Bhima Purple in about 40 acres and harvested bulbs were sold as seed directly to different farmers from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. This variety is now grown over 600 acres in different states. Most of the farmers are often earning a net profit of more than Rs. 1.0 lakh/acre by cultivating Bhima Purple. Mr. Jare who is the recipient of Late Vasantrao Naik Krushi Bhushan Award (2012) and Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Award (2013) for his realistic achievements in cultivation of garlic gives due credit to DOGR for his achievements.
KHARIF ONION PRODUCTION IN VIDARBHA
Kharif onion production is not a tradition in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. The farmers of Vidarbha generally cultivate Rabi onion. But due to the factors like shortage of water, irregular electric supply, high temperature rabi onion production is also becoming less profitable. Keeping these constraints in view, Shri. Namdeorao Adhau, a progressive farmer of Patur, Akola of Vidarbha region (Maharashtra), decided to cultivate Kharif onion in his field. He was advised on Kharif onion production technology developed by DOGR for growing onion crop on Broad Bed Furrows (BBF) with micro irrigation and provided with technical bulletins and CDs published by DOGR. First he planned for 4 acre and used variety Bhima Super developed by DOGR and raised his nursery on raised beds with sprinkler irrigation and transplanted seedlings on BBF with sprinkler irrigation in the first week of August. He has followed fertilizer doses and plant protection recommendations as per DOGR guidelines. He harvested onion after 95 days and got 10 ton marketable onion per acre and sold right at the field @ Rs.30 per kg which gave him total income of Rs. 3 lakh per acre. His cost of cultivation for onion was Rs.40,000 per acre.
Paradoxically in the Kharif season in Maharashtra, there were yield losses to the tune of 30-60%. Yield level was 2-4 t/acre planted in flat beds while raised bed planted recorded yield of 10t/acre. DOGR has popularized “Kharif Onion Production Technology”. Kharif onion plays an important role in supply chain management from October to January all over the country.
TSP on Onion and Garlic
Onion and garlic are important commercial crops which can improve livelihood of farmers. The tribal belt of Nandurbar in Maharashtra has congenial climatic conditions for production of onion and garlic at commercial level. But cultivation of these crops was limited to the kitchen garden only before the initiation of Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) in this area by ICAR-DOGR. The scheme was initiated in this area in April, 2013. About 350 tribal farmers were selected from 35 farmers groups. Each group undertook demonstrations on onion and garlic cultivation in one acre of land in Navapur,
Akalkua and Dhadgoan Talukas of Nandurbar. In total, 49 demonstrations on newly improved varieties of onion and garlic and improved production technology were undertaken. Kharif onion production was also demonstrated in Navapur Taluka of Nandurbar. Fifteen tribal villages have been benefited by commercial cultivation of onion and garlic. More than one thousand tribal farmers have been trained by organizing 9 field days and 4 trainings by ICAR-DOGR.
Most of the farmers of selected areas now cultivate onion and garlic on commercial scale. Onion and garlic are giving more profit than traditionally grown crops in these areas. Farmers have earned a net income of Rs. 80,000-1,00,000 per acre by production of about 120 q bulbs of onion variety Bhima Shakti during rabi season and earned same net income by production of about 80 q bulbs of Bhima Super in kharif season. Cultivation of garlic at commercial level has also been introduced in this belt. By garlic cultivation Rs. 80,000-90,000 per acre is earned by production of about 30 q bulbs per acre of Bhima Purple.
Nandurbar areas also has favorable climatic conditions for onion seed production. Vast availability of honey bees which are main pollinator of onion further enhance the potential of seed production in this area. Production of onion seed was also demonstrated under TSP in this area. Farmers have earned 1,00,000-1,20,000 per acre net income by production of about 250 kg seeds per acre of Bhima Kiran. ICAR-DOGR intends to carry this scheme further to new areas.